Ijunad examines the Industrial Revolution as a pivotal historical moment during which nature was construed as a "benevolent" refuge from urban deprivation to be pristinely preserved, much to the distress of displaced Indigenous populations. He reflects on how the portrayal of nature as pure and benevolent influenced conservation efforts devoid of human involvement. He contrasts this narrow depiction of nature with the complex narratives found in Maldivian folklore and mythology, which refrain from anthropomorphizing nature but rather instill lessons to treat the environment with reverence and respect.

Princess Avianne Charles highlights the harmful impact of the fossil fuel industry on the climate crisis. She amplifies how communities are empowered to shift toward a just energy transition through the Power Up Mobilization campaign by 350.org, with initiatives in the Caribbean, Latin America, and around the world.

Princess Avianne Charles questions whether a work-life balance is truly achievable in a capitalist system. Workers' inability to prioritize other facets of their lives without sacrificing their livelihoods, physical health, and mental well-being remains of great concern. As worker exploitation prevails, similar hazardous effects impact our climate and environment. With workers’ value and identity being tied to their labor, she accounts for the strides among generations toward acquiring agency and autonomy.

Princess Avianne Charles outlines the plight of Caribbean nations facing the challenges of climate change, namely hurricanes, ecosystem destruction, and rising sea levels. This article highlights the adaptation strategies implemented by Caribbean nations to mitigate these challenges, and calls for increased collaboration and learning amongst Caribbean countries on climate-related events.

Unveiling the stark realities of environmental racism and extractivism, Ijunad Junaid writes on the deeply entrenched barriers that restrict access to nature for marginalized communites. This piece exposes how historical injustices, profit-driven exploitation, and the transformation of natural spaces into commodities perpetuate a cycle of inequity, urging us to confront these systemic issues and strive for a more inclusive and harmonious relationship between humanity and the environment.

Lauren Ritchie reflects on the devastating Maui fires and the plight of small islands like Hawaii and The Bahamas which have economies dependent on tourism while bearing the brunt of climate change impacts. She calls on the world to pay attention to the human faces behind the disaster and to trace these tragedies to their roots in colonial exploitation before it’s too late.

In this piece, Ijunad Junaid, Maldivian environmental storyteller, reflects on his experience with climate activism — moving away from mass civil disobedience towards activism rooted in regenerative cultures. Ijunad writes that resilient communities and space for healing and reconnection creates a shift in consciousness through which we can begin to dismantle systems of hyper-individualism, mass consumerism and patterns of extraction.

Simplifications of the vast diversity amongst Asian Americans continue to dominate narratives, much to the harm of the entire “Asian American community” — especially within the context of the climate crisis. The disproportionate environmental injustice implications that historically poor and refugee descended Asian American populations experience are lost and cast aside when society continues to view Asian Americans as a well-off monolith.

Increasing widespread access to reproductive rights, services, and education is the most effective method to prevent unplanned pregnancy, curb STIs, and promote gender equity. But let’s make one thing clear — the fight to expand women’s bodily autonomy should never come at the price of putting vulnerable communities in danger.

As a student attending a wealthy, predominately white institution, I’m no stranger to the volunteer stories of my colleagues and teachers. The tales of missionary trips to build schools in Africa (yes, apparently the entire continent?) and community service projects to build wells or create climate adaptation policies in underprivileged communities echo through the walls of elite universities and are boastfully uttered from the mouths of some of your favorite “activists” without fail.

The warranted uproar over global racism has also led to a greater conversation within the climate community about the need for an intersectional approach to environmentalism and the importance of social justice and inclusivity within environmental activism.

In the past few years, more and more people are waking up to the true cost of consuming fast fashion. The biggest abomination of all is how our society deeply ingrained the belief within us that clothes are made for short-term enjoyment and long-term disposal.

Deconstructing white supremacy, one statue removal at a time. Across the globe, statues and monuments dedicated to controversial historical figures with legacies of racism such as Edward Colston, Jefferson Davis, and Christopher Columbus have been torn down during Black Lives Matter protests. Whilst most conservative uproar explains that removing such statues “erases valuable history”, many others feel that the destruction of these monuments is long overdue.

From zero-waste tips and tricks to copious smiling selfies of middle-aged women sharing their favorite Trader Joe’s finds or the latest gems from their home gardens, it’s always very clear to me that the sustainability movement caters to a specific demographic of individuals.

In light of having both Black History Month and Valentine's Day fall during a global pandemic this year, I find it especially important to talk about self love and activist burnout, especially for BIPOC.

Here’s what natural disasters reveal about racism and poverty. Whilst many people think that natural disasters are “equal opportunity” catastrophes, the reality is that natural disasters impact different communities in different ways. In particular, events such as Hurricane Dorian highlight the existential threat posed to island developing states, that are largely comprised of people of color, by the ongoing climate emergency.

Worst of all, when I first heard the infamous line “Lizzie Mcguire, you’re an outfit repeater” in the 5th grade, I immediately understood the taboo and vowed to never incur the same tragic and humiliating fate as our on-screen Disney fav.

As our society adapted in the wake of a global pandemic, various lessons emerged about what the COVID-19 response could (and could not) teach us about fighting climate change.

One of the greatest challenges of the climate agenda is getting people to care about it.